Explanation
1. BACKGROUND
This ordinance authorizes the City’s Chief Innovation Officer to contract with the Workforce Development Board of Central Ohio (WDBCO) to require WDBCO to contract with a vendor relative to researching job creation opportunities around Smart Columbus initiatives.
In 2016, the City of Columbus bested six other finalists to be named the winner of the Smart City Challenge, a nationwide competition administered by the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) and the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation (Vulcan), which seeks to “create a fully integrated, first-of-its kind city that uses data, technology and creativity to shape how people and goods move in the future.”
WDBCO solicited Requests for Proposals from Offerors to provide research on job creation for central Ohio residents around the Smart Columbus initiatives and examine ladders of opportunity by cross walking education, credentialing and experience to specific careers.
Ordinance 1863-2016 authorized the Director of Public Service to sign agreements with USDOT, Vulcan, or others in connection with the award of the Smart City Challenge grant, the expenditure of those grant funds through additional council action, if needed, and the return of unused Smart City Challenge grant funds if any should remain at the end of the grant. This legislation also authorized the Director of Public Service to enter into agreements with organizations or individuals to accept contributions of materials, services, equipment, grants, or other type of assistance related to the Smart City Challenge, to administer the contributions according to the terms and conditions of the agreements, and to authorize the return of any contributions if required at the end of the term of the agreement.
Ordinance 1901-2017 authorized the transfer of signature authority from the Director of Public Service to the Chief Innovation Officer, or the Chief Innovation Officer's designee, for all past, present and future contracts entered into by the City of Columbus in connection with Smart Columbus, the Smart City Challenge, and Vulcan projects.
Pursuant to the aforesaid legislation, the City executed a grant agreement with Vulcan with the aim of laying a practical path to replacing carbon-based fuel consumption through critical system improvements that increase safety, reduce carbon emissions, and enhance mobility. That grant agreement allows the City to engage other parties to fulfill the terms of that agreement with the approval of Vulcan and City Council.
To that end, WDBCO advertised the project on WDBCO’s website, as well as with Vendor Services. As a result of the procurement efforts, the Smart City Program Management Office desires to contract with WDBCO to require WDBCO to contract with a vendor relative to researching job creation opportunities around Smart Columbus initiatives.
Per Columbus City Code Chapter 329, the Smart Columbus Program Management Office has complied with the requirements for awarding a professional service contract to WDBCO. A search of the I.R.S. website revealed WDBCO is classified as a tax-exempt charitable organization.
2. FISCAL IMPACT
Funding in the amount of $150,000 is available for this project expenditure within Fund 7768 Smart City Private Grant Fund. A transfer between Object Classes is necessary to align the budgeted funds with the expenditure.
3. EMERGENCY DESIGNATION
Emergency action is requested to provide for the timely execution of the aforementioned service contract with WDBCO so as to facilitate the provision of requisite services in accordance with the schedule set forth in the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation Phase IV Grant Agreement.
Title
To authorize the Chief Innovation Officer to execute a professional service contract with WDBCO relative to researching job creation opportunities around Smart Columbus initiatives; to transfer funds between object classes within the Smart City Private Grant Fund; to authorize the expenditure of $150,000.00 from the Smart City Private Grant Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($150,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, in 2016, the City of Columbus bested six other finalists to be named the winner of the Smart City Challenge, a nationwide competition administered by the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) and the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation (Vulcan), which seeks to “create a fully integrated, first-of-its kind city that uses data, technology and creativity to shape how people and goods move in the future”; and
WHEREAS, Ordinance Number 1863-2016 authorized the Director of Public Service to enter into agreements with organizations or individuals to accept grants and contributions of materials, services, equipment, and other types of assistance related to the Smart City Challenge, and to administer those contributions according to the terms and conditions of the agreements; and
WHEREAS, Ordinance Number 1901-2017 authorized the transfer of signature authority from the Director of Public Service to the Chief Innovation Officer, or the Chief Innovation Officer's designee, for all past, present and future contracts entered into by the City of Columbus in connection with Smart Columbus, the Smart City Challenge, and Vulcan projects; and
WHEREAS, the Smart City Program Management Office does not currently have qualified staff available to research job creation opportunities around Smart Columbus initiatives, and WDBCO has staff and sub-consultants who are qualified for said projects; and
WHEREAS, the Chief Innovation Officer desires to enter into a professional service contract with WDBCO relative to researching job creation opportunities around Smart Columbus initiatives; and
WHEREAS, the Smart City PMO has a need to transfer $150,000.00 from Object Class 06 to Object Class 03 in order to align the budgeted funds with the planned expenditure; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Public Service, Smart City Challenge Program Management Office, in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Chief Innovation Officer to execute a professional service contract with WDBCO so as to facilitate the provision of services necessary to achieve the objectives outlined in the Smart Columbus Challenge, thereby preserving the public health, peace, property, safety, and welfare; now therefore,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Chief Innovation Officer for the City of Columbus be and is hereby authorized to execute a professional service contract with WDBCO, 1650 Lake Shore Drive Suite 110, Columbus, Ohio 43204, relative to researching job creation opportunities around Smart Columbus initiatives.
SECTION 2. That the expenditure of $150,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary, be and is hereby authorized in Fund 7768 (Smart City Grant Fund), Dept-Div 5912 (Division of Design and Construction), Project G591611 (Private Grant Smart City), in Object Class 03 (Capital Outlay) per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That the transfer of $150,000.00 or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized between object classes within Fund 7768 Smart City Grant Fund per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 4. That the funds necessary to carry out the purpose of this ordinance are hereby deemed appropriated, and the City Auditor shall establish such accounting codes as necessary.
SECTION 5. That the City Auditor is authorized to make any accounting changes to revise the funding source for all contracts or contract modifications associated with this ordinance.
SECTION 6. That the City Auditor is authorized to reimburse for expenses to WDBCO for expenses beginning April 1, 2019.
SECTION 7. That the City Auditor is hereby authorized to transfer the unencumbered balance in a project account to the unallocated balance account within the same fund upon receipt of certification by the Director of the Department administering said project that the project has been completed and the monies are no longer required for said project.
SECTION 8. That for the reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof, this ordinance is hereby declared to be an emergency measure and shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage and approval by the Mayor, or 10 days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.